Tabaddor claims she was ordered recused from hearing cases involving Iranian immigrants in 2012 after she attended the White House Office of Public Engagement's Roundtable with Iranian-American Community Leaders.

The lawsuit says other immigration judges who have been active in their religious and ethnic communities had not been subject to blanket recusal orders.

The Los Angeles immigration judge wants the order reversed and to be assigned cases randomly, like other judges.

Messages seeking comment were left for the Executive Office for Immigration Review and Justice Department.